It did not take long for Ryan Moats' phone to ring after the Houston Texans released him last week. The Vikings quickly showed interest and Tuesday they signed the veteran running back to a one-year contract. Moats was kind enough to take some time to talk about his familiarity with Vikings coach Brad Childress, how he expects to fit in with his new team and also about a much publicized incident in which he was involved in 2009 in Dallas.

Q. How many teams did you talk to after being let go? A. "I really didn't talk to a lot of teams. I talked to Minnesota a little bit. There wasn't too much time to talk to a lot of teams because it happened so fast. I just knew once I got the call from Minnesota that it was a good fit for me. They have one of the best running back coaches in the league [in Eric Bieniemy]. He's been there and done that. It's a cool position to be in, and I'm willing and interested in learning a lot from him and being a part of that team." Q. Were you surprised when the Texans informed you they were going to release you? A. "I was ready to go do whatever I had to do as far as if I had to go to camp with the Texans. I was going in with everything [I had]. I was willing to do that. But I already knew that they had drafted Ben Tate [in the second round] and they wanted to develop him. I kind of figured that sooner or later that possibly I could be the guy that was the odd man out. That's kind of what I figured. God works in mysterious ways and I'm excited to be a part of the Minnesota Vikings." Q. The Vikings already have Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart as their top two running backs. What did the Vikings tell you and what do you expect your role to be here? A. "My role may be playing on special teams and wherever I fit in is fine with me. I'm a team player. I've never really concentrated on who is the [main] guy. We already know who the guy is. He's done a great job since he's been in this league, and I think he will continue to do a great job. All I'm here [to do] is to help and I'm here to support. Anyway I can do that, I will."

Q. Are you a four-phase special teams guy? A. "I have developed myself into a special team's guy over the years. Some of us have no experience in playing special teams [coming out of college]. But over the years I've gained experience. I've been coached by some good special teams coaches and made [myself] into a pretty good special teams player. Whatever I have to do to be on the field I will do it." Q. How much do you think it helps that you played for Brad Childress in 2005 when he was offensive coordinator with the Eagles? A. "Anytime you can get on the same page as the head coach it's a good thing. For me to know his philosophy, what he wants and the type of chemistry he wants between coaches and players and players and players, that's good to know. That way I can be on the same page with him and his staff and the players and won't be trying to find where I fit in. I'll actually know exactly where I need to be, what I need to do and what my attitude needs to be." Q. What do you see as your strengths as a running back? A. "I think what I bring is just hard-nosed, tough running, whatever way you can get it done, get it done. That's kind of how I approach my game personally. I just go play hard, as hard as I can play, every time. No matter what it is. If I'm standing on the sideline and it's the last play of the game and that's my first play of the game, I'll go in there and give you all I've got. That's pretty much what I am. I just run hard. It's just that simple." Q. Will you try to come to Winter Park early before camp starts? A. "No. I don't have a home in Minnesota yet so I'll probably be back during training camp. The good part about this whole thing is that I've been in this offense before. It's a similar offense to Philly and also similar to Houston as far as the same style. It won't be that hard to catch back on." Q. You do know Brad Childress likes to run the ball more than Andy Reid does with the Eagles, right? A. "Running the ball is easy. They call an outside zone, they call an inside zone, whatever they call. The other part you need to know are the schemes, the concepts of the protection. That's the part that will trip you up if you don't already have experience in it. I have experience in it already as far as the style of the protections, the concepts and all of that. That's the cool part about this whole thing is I already have my foot in the door as far as the mental part of it." Q. Chester Taylor, who left for Chicago as a free agent after last season, was a very good receiver and blocking back on third down. Do you see an opening there potentially? A. "I'm going into this thing blind. I don't really know what my role will be. I'm just going to go in and whatever I fall into as far as whatever role they want me to play I'll play it. I'm just going to try to be a total team player, not expect anything from anybody. Just go in and fight and whatever role that I develop over the time during training camp that's the role that obviously I will take. If it's that role [on third down] than I will take that role. If it's not, then I will take whatever role that's given." Q. You had a much-publicized incident in March 2009 when a Dallas police officer detained you as you and other members of your family were trying to get to the hospital to see your mother-in-law. (She died before Moats could get inside to see her.) How difficult was that? A. "Of course, I'm happy to be through that. I'm happy for my family to be through that because it was a tough time. To live through something like that it was two very traumatic experiences at one time as far as the police officer [detaining me] and my mother-in-law passing away. With the police officer [Robert Powell], I wish him the best and I hope that something like this will change his life. That's what it's all about really is changing as people and trying to become a better person as we go through this life. I wished him all the best, I accepted his apology and I hope that he's doing well and I hope that he's changed his life as a person and as an officer. I wish him the best and I actually told him that myself."